Osaka seemed rocked by wasting her chances and she briefly left the court crying between the second and third sets.

But she found her composure early in the third to break Kvitova's serve and it was an advantage she was able to maintain to close out her win.

She then showed her class when she preferred to praise Kvitova rather than bask in the glow of her win.

"I always wanted to play you and you have been through so much," Osaka said at the presentation ceremony.

"Honestly I wouldn't have wanted this to be our first match.

"Huge congrats to you and your team and you are really amazing and I am really honoured to have played you in the final of a Grand Slam."

It would be a most satisfying victory for Osaka, given her win in the US Open final was overshadowed by the drama surrounding Williams.

The presentation ceremony in New York had been marred by booing, which seemed aimed at chair umpire Carlos Ramos, and a tearful Osaka had to be comforted by Williams, who had been handed a game penalty among three violations during the final.